Neuromuscular electrical stimulation

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this scoping review was to investigate the mobilization dose reporting in the randomized clinical trials (RCTs) of patients receiving mechanical ventilation in the intensive care unit. METHODS: In this scoping review, RCTs published from inception to December 2022 were searched in relevant electronic databases. Trials that involved adults receiving mechanical ventilation (>48 hours) and any early mobilization modality were analyzed...

Electrophysiological recording is a group of techniques used to record electrical field potentials generated by cells. These techniques rely on several types of electrodes, which can be manufactured in the laboratory. In intracellular recording, glass microelectrodes are used to pierce the cell membrane, and then to measure the electrical potential difference between the inside and the outside of the cell. Another technique, called loose patch or focal recording, is similar to intracellular recording but the electrode tip does not pierce into the cell membrane...

Neural stimulation technology aids stroke survivors in regaining lost motor functions. This article explores its applications in upper and lower limb stroke rehabilitation. The authors review various methods to target the corticomotor system, including transcranial direct current stimulation, repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation, and vagus nerve stimulation. In addition, the authors review the use of peripheral neuromuscular electrical stimulation for therapeutic and assistive purposes, including transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, neuromuscular electrical stimulation, and functional electrical stimulation...

Degenerative cervical myelopathy is a frequently encountered age-related pathology following compression of the spinal cord. This case report delineates the clinical manifestation of cervical and lumbar myelopathy in a 78-year-old male patient, characterised by chief complaints of difficulty in moving bilateral upper and lower extremities and difficulty in bed mobility. Motor impairment can manifest in three different presentations, which are paraparesis, hemiparesis, or quadriparesis. The motor relearning program incorporating functional electrical stimulation constitutes a rehabilitative approach used for the restoration of motor function...

The monitoring of the neuromuscular blockade is critical for patient's safety during and after surgery. The monitoring of neuromuscular blockade often requires the use of Train of Four (TOF) technique. During a TOF test two electrodes are attached to the ulnar nerve, and a series of four electric pulses are applied. The electrical stimulation causes the thumb to twitch, and the amount of twitch varies depending on the amount of neuromuscular blockade in patient's system. Current medical devices used to assist anesthesiologists to perform TOF monitoring often require free hand movement and do not provide accurate or reliable results...

Although a lung disease, COPD is also associated with extrapulmonary manifestations including, among others, limb muscle dysfunction. Limb muscle dysfunction is a key systemic consequence of COPD that impacts patients' physical activity, exercise tolerance, quality of life and survival. Deconditioning is the main mechanism underlying the development of limb muscle dysfunction in COPD, which can be partially improved with exercise. However, some patients may not be able to tolerate exercise because of incapacitating breathlessness or unwillingness to undertake whole-body exercise...

OBJECTIVES: We published a meta-analysis in March 2020 to assess the impact of rehabilitation in the ICU on clinical outcomes. Since then, 15 new randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have been published; we updated the meta-analysis to show how the recent studies have tipped the scale. DESIGN: Systematic review and meta-analysis. SETTING: An update of secondary data analysis of RCTs published between January 1998 and July 2023 performed in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines...

The separation of the two rectus abdominis muscles along the linea alba is termed diastasis of recti abdominis muscles (DRAM). DRAM is a common health problem in people that are both pregnant and postpartum. With a 100% frequency at gestational week 35, it is extremely frequent during pregnancy. Control and function of the trunk are greatly influenced by the musculature of the abdomen. The existence, extent, and duration of DRAM have been connected to low back and pelvic discomfort however the relationship is not conclusive...

BACKGROUND: Adults with refractory, mechanical chronic low back pain associated with impaired neuromuscular control of the lumbar multifidus muscle have few treatment options that provide long-term clinical benefit. This study hypothesized that restorative neurostimulation, a rehabilitative treatment that activates the lumbar multifidus muscles to overcome underlying dysfunction, is safe and provides relevant and durable clinical benefit to patients with this specific etiology. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this prospective five-year longitudinal follow-up of the ReActiv8-B pivotal trial, participants (N = 204) had activity-limiting, moderate-to-severe, refractory, mechanical chronic low back pain, a positive prone instability test result indicating impaired multifidus muscle control, and no indications for spine surgery...

INTRODUCTION: Peripheral neuroprostheses are aimed to restore loss of sensory and motor functions by interfacing axons in the peripheral nerves. Most common interfaces in neuroprostheses are electrodes that establish electrical connection with peripheral axons. However, some challenges arise related to long-term functionality, durability, and body response. Recently, focused ultrasound stimulation (FUS) has emerged as a non-invasive approach to modulate the nervous system. However, it is controversial whether FUS can induce axon depolarization...

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Muscle atrophy is an early event that occurs after stroke, but there are few reports on the changes in skeletal muscle thickness in acute stroke. This study investigated the factors contributing to reduced muscle thickness in patients with acute stroke. METHODS: In total, 51 patients with stroke and the National Institute of the Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) > 3 were included in our study. They were admitted to our hospital between July 2017 and May 2020...

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of unilateral upper limbs' (ULM) neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) superimposed on a voluntary contraction added to a protocol of intradialytic leg cycle ergometer exercise on muscle strength, functional capacity and quality of life of adult patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). METHODS: This randomized controlled clinical trial will be carried out at a Brazilian University Hospital. The patients will be evaluated and randomly allocated to an intervention group (i...

Background: We investigated the impact of 1) passive heating (PH) induced by single and intermittent/prolonged hot-water immersion (HWI) and 2) the duration of PH, on muscle contractile function under the unfatigued state, and during the development of muscle fatigue. Methods: Twelve young males volunteered for this study consisting of two phases: single phase (SP) followed by intermittent/prolonged phase (IPP), with both phases including two conditions (i.e., four trials in total) performed randomly: control passive sitting (CON) and HWI (44-45°C; water up to the waist level)...

OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the effect of neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) on the frontal ankle motor control in individuals with chronic ankle instability (CAI) during drop-landing. DESIGN: This was a randomized, controlled, double-blind trial. Thirty-six individuals with CAI were randomly assigned to each group. Participants received 6-week NMES intervention and sham stimulation in the NMES and control groups, respectively. Data was collected at week0 and week6...

Peripheral nerve injuries (PNIs) are common and devastating. The current standard of care relies on the slow and inefficient process of nerve regeneration after surgical intervention. Electrical stimulation (ES) has been shown to both experimentally and clinically result in improved regeneration and functional recovery after PNI for motor and sensory neurons; however, its effects on sympathetic regeneration have never been studied. Sympathetic neurons are responsible for a myriad of homeostatic processes that include, but are not limited to, blood pressure, immune response, sweating, and the structural integrity of the neuromuscular junction...

AIM: The influence on acute skeletal muscle transcriptomics of neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES), as compared to established exercises, is poorly understood. We aimed to investigate the effects on global mRNA-expression in the quadriceps muscle early after a single NMES-session, compared to the effects of voluntary knee extension exercise (EX), and to explore the discomfort level. METHODS: Global vastus lateralis muscle gene expression was assessed (RNA-sequencing) in 30 healthy participants, before and 3 h after a 30-min session of NMES and/or EX...

INTRODUCTION: Whereas repetitive facilitative exercise (RFE) affects primarily recovery of motor impairment after stroke, task-oriented training (TOT) focuses on facilitating daily use of the affected upper extremity. However, feasibility of combined RFE and TOT has not been reported. We originated "task-oriented RFE," as a new combination therapy for patients with hemiplegic upper extremity after subacute stroke, to examine its feasibility in convalescent rehabilitation wards. METHODS: This is a before-and-after pilot study...

Hypertension is a frequent condition in untrained middle-aged to older adults, who form the core group of whole-body electromyostimulation (WB-EMS) applicants. So far, the acute effects of varying impulse intensities on blood pressure responses have not been evaluated in normo- and hypertensive people. Thirteen hypertensive and twelve normotensive overweight WB-EMS novices, 40-70 years old, conducted the same WB-EMS protocol (20 min, bipolar, 85 Hz, 350 µs, 4 s impulse-4 s rest; combined with easy movements) with increasing impulse intensity (low, moderate, advanced) per session...

INTRODUCTION: Limb paresis following a stroke is a common sequela that can impact patients' quality of life. Many rehabilitation strategies targeting the restoration of motor function exist. This systematic review and meta-analysis aim to evaluate the effects of contralaterally controlled functional electrical stimulation (CCFES) as a modality for limb rehabilitation. Unlike conventional neuromuscular electrical simulation (NMES), the contra-laterality in CCFES is achieved by two methods a bend angle sensor or an electromyographic bridge (EMGB) method, both of which targets signals from the unaffected limb...

Pharmacologic prophylaxis is the most commonly used prophylaxis for venous thromboembolism (VTE), but the pharmacologic prophylaxis is limited in patients at high risk of bleeding. Mechanical prophylaxis alone or in combination is an important method of VTE prophylaxis in patients at high risk of bleeding, but the current mainstream mechanical prophylaxis, which includes graded compression stockings, intermittent inflatable compression pumps and plantar venous compression pumps, has some limitations, leading to discomfort for patients wearing them due to the large contact area, and even affecting ability to perform daily activities...